Child & Youth Development

The Child and Youth Development Concentration prepares students to work with children and adolescents in non-school settings, such as residential treatment, community youth services, foster care, after-school programs and juvenile justice system.

Upon completion of the program students become eligible for certification as a Child and Youth Care Worker from the Child and Youth Certification Board (after two years of relevant work experience). This certification allows students to demonstrate their commitment to higher standards and professional practice when working with youth. Child and Youth Care Practitioners comprise the largest human service profession in the world, and an optimistic career outlook. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this area has a faster than average occupational outlook for 2010 to 2020.

This concentration provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to promote positive development in children and adolescents from a variety of diverse backgrounds.  Good candidates for this concentration have a passion for working with children and adolescents, strong communication skills, organization, good social skills, creativity and leadership.

For more information contact Dr. Emily Mupinga at emupinga@kent.edu.

Course Requirements:  
HDFS 24012 Early Adolescence 3
HDFS 44021 Family Intervention 3
HDFS 44035 Assessment & Strategies in Case Mgmt. 3
HDFS 44037 Positive Youth Development 3
HDFS 44038 Professional Child & Youth Work Practice 3
HDFS 44092 Practicum in HDFS 3-6
HED 34060 Small Group Processes 2
RPTM 36075 Program Design & Evaluation (wave prerequisite) 3
Select 3 Hours From the Following:
HED 32530 Drug Use and Misuse 3
HED 32544 Human Sexuality 3
JUS 34311 Youth and the Justice System (wave prerequisite) 3
SPE 23000 Intro to Exceptionalities 3

For the Complete Roadmap for Child & Youth Development, please click here

Professional Licensure Disclosure
This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.